Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 6

Despite announcements of recarpeting of all major roads by spending Rs 46 crore, there is little hope that recarpeting work would start before the Assembly elections. The incumbent Congress government is already facing criticism over development and the party may suffer during elections in urban constituencies due to the pathetic road condition.

Recarpeting project in a limbo

The MC had spent Rs 11 crore on the recarpeting of some major roads in the city during 2020-21. The proposal of spending Rs 7 crore on a few roads did not get the approval of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC). More than 40 road stretches, identified by the MC, were supposed to be recarpeted at a cost of Rs 46 crore of MC funds.

The MC had spent Rs 11 crore on the recarpeting of some major roads in the city during 2020-21. The proposal of spending Rs 7 crore on a few roads did not get the approval of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC). More than 40 road stretches, identified by the MC, were supposed to be recarpeted at a cost of Rs 46 crore of MC funds.

The MC had initiated the e-tendering process in April. The technical bid of the tender was opened on August 24 and the tendering committee forwarded it to the Local Governments Department for vetting. Ironically, the vetting is still pending at Local Governments Department.

The roads cannot be recarpeted during the upcoming winter season. Despite the local government department’s nod to the technical bid, the MC would not able to complete the process before the elections.

Deepinder Sandhu, Executive Engineer, civil wing, MC, said, “We have sent the case to the local government department for approval. They have delayed it. The weather would not be favourable for recarpeting of roads.”

The roads to be recarpeted are: New Kot Mit Singh Road, Temple Colony Road , Dairy Complex Road, Gobindgarh Fort Road, Civil Hospital Road, Guru Harkishan School Road, Janata Colony Road, Khazana Gate to Hakima, Bhagtawala to Gilwali, Gilwali to Chattiwind, Sultanwind to Hansli, Hansli to Ghee Mandi, Gilwali to Chattiwind, Bari Gate to Lahori Gate, Court Road , Kachari Chowk to Hartej Hospital, Gumtala Bypass, Race Course Road, Fatehgarh Churian Road, Guru Gobind Singh Chowk to Power Colony Majitha Road, SSSS Chowk to Hussain Pura, Maqbool Road, Rani Ka Bagh, Sadar Police Station, Bhandari Bridge to Kachari Chowk, Queens Road, Cooper Road, Joshi Colony Main Road, Jamun Wali Road, Basant Avenue Main Road, Madan Mohan Malviya Road, Lawrence Road, 88-feet Road, Bhagat Kabir Marg, Dasondha Singh Road, Old Jail Road, Albert Road, Taylor Road, Ranjit Avenue Main Road, Joda Phatak to GT Road, New Golden Avenue Road, Islam Ganj Road, Abadi Shivala Road, Main Shivala Road, Main Krishna Square, 100-feet Road and Guru Ravidas Marg, are proposed to recarpet by MCA.